Stockman's Ford

[Robyn]

I had a question at the latest Poets in the Pub at Wombat about the Stockman's Ford. Paterson refers to it in How Gilbert Died and again in Conroy's Gap. John Gilbert of course was shot near Binalong and there is a Conroy's Gap on the Hume Highway between Yass and Bookham (but I don't know if that is the Conroy's Gap Paterson refers to).
I also don't know if the Stockman's Ford was a real place or if it is imaginary. Does anyone know if it is real, and if so, where it is?
Cheers
Robyn

[warooa]

Dunno Robyn . . . I'm a Holden man

[Bob Pacey]

Bloody hopeless you are Marty


We will no doubt try and find out for you Robyn .




Bob

[Stephen Whiteside]

Robyn, I would have thought there'd be a hundred 'Stockman's Fords' around the country. Surely it simply refers to a place where cattle can be taken across a river without too much drama.

[Heather]

They were my thoughts too Robyn - the things Stephen said.

[manfredvijars]

The Conroy's Gap of Paterson's "Conroys Gap is west of Yass on the (now)Hume Highway just before Bookham ...

I concur with the above on the Stockman's Ford ... just a note, it seems to be mostly called "The" Stockman's Ford ...

[Robyn]

Thanks to all... I'm sure there are stockman's fords all over the country, but the capital letters and as Manfred says, the reference to The Stockman's Ford made me think it may be a specific place, probably in the district around Yass/Binalong.
And yes Manfred, Conroy's Gap is around here, which is what made me think that Paterson may have been refering to particular places in the district, given that he spent some of his childhood years here.
Thanks for the suggestions. Now I can go back to Wombat and say somethng like... in the opinion of the bush poet community.
Robyn